Tag Archives: New Orleans Saints

For 20 days, Michigan has been without a football coach and all signs point the school waiting for Jim Harbaugh. Michigan insiders are ‘all in’ on the former Wolverine quarterback, feeling he’s the one coach who could unify the fan base and fix the Ohio State inferiority complex.

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n Wednesday, we reported that Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was likely headed to the NFL.

Grantham was in consideration for both of the NFL coordinator jobs open at the time, but both of those jobs went to other candidates and Grantham announced that he will return to Athens.

Chip Kelly filled the Philadelphia opening by hiring Browns’ linebackers coach Billy Davis on Wednesday. Grantham interviewed with the Saints on Thursday, but Sean Payton hired former Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, long speculated to be the leading candidate.

Following the interview, Grantham learned that Ryan was going to be the Saints’ choice, and then announced that he would return to Georgia.

“As I said Wednesday, Georgia is a great place, my family loves it here, and I do as well,” Grantham told the Athens Banner-Herald. “This is where our heart is and today I have withdrawn from consideration for the position with the Saints. I’m excited to start preparations for another season and along with the rest of our defensive staff look forward to coaching some really good returning players as well as developing some very talented newcomers.”

Grantham coached in the NFL for 11 seasons with the Colts, Cowboys, Texans and Browns before coming to Georgia. Grantham is very well regarded in NFL circles and sources indicate that he would like to coach again at the professional level.

A source says that Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has likely coached his last game at Georgia. (Photo: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t would appear that Todd Grantham has coached his last game at Georgia.

Sources close to the situation tell us that Grantham is looking to make a change, and that he is “highly likely” to be coaching in the NFL next season.

It’s been widely reported that Grantham will interview with New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton on Thursday, but the source indicated that Grantham is more likely to join Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles staff as defensive coordinator.

Speaking to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wednesday, Grantham dodged questions about his interest either NFL job.

“You know what? I can tell you this, that my family loves it here; I like it here a lot; and this is a very special place and I think today needs to be focused on the players we’ve got here right now and trying to get back to Atlanta,” Grantham said.

Georgia head coach Mark Richt sidestepped the possibility as well.

“I know that we’ve got great coaches on our staff and every single off-season somebody’s calling me about somebody,” Richt said. “That’s just the way it works and I think it’s a good sign. That’s just the way it works. I think we have some pretty good coaches and ones people think a lot of.”

The source indicated that Richt is aware of Grantham’s desire to leave, and has a plan in place to move quickly on a replacement. No potential candidates were mentioned, however.

On Wednesday, Payton appeared on ESPN radio’s “Mike and Mike Show” and said he planned to speak to “two to four” candidates in the coming days. Payton did not mention Grantham by name, but did say that he planned to meet with former Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.